The 42 Absolute Best Eco-Adventures in the United States This Year.

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Awesome Tips Bucket List Worthy

By Courtney McCaffrey | October 17, 2017

It’s Mother Earth like you’ve never seen her – and here’s your chance to love her as much as she loves you.

Your best vacations are those in which you see the unexpected – you fall in love with new corners of the Earth which we’ve just discovered. At the heart of these discoveries are a plea – as the world becomes more eco-friendly, your love for the Earth should become something of a mother’s love: protective, gentle, appreciative. These eco-adventures take you to new, unexplored terrains – but the guides are friends to the soil, and the tours touch on the often unseen glories of our Earth.

We believe that you should feel good about the impact of your stay on new terrain – as you learn about the ecology, you can rest assured that your tours through swamps, marshes, and deserts are leaving the Earth unharmed…and more loved for it.

Photo Credit to David Marcu on Unsplash.

Photo Credit to Aaron Burden on Unsplash.

Here’s to uncharted territory and falling in love with the Earth all over again.

Exploration Eco Tours

1. Kilauea EcoGuides

Ever since you were a kid, you’d love to pretend the floor was made of lava as you jumped from couch to chair. Now is your chance to see flowing lava up close and personal on the world’s most active volcano – Kilauea in Hawaii. Don’t worry – it’s safe. Even though you’re in hand’s reach of lava and on trails that most tour companies don’t access, Kilauea EcoGuides’ guides are certified annually by Hawaii Volcanoes National Park management and train alongside park rangers and professional scientists.

2. Hawaii Eco Divers and Surf Adventure

Your friends know Hawaii by land – now you’ll know it by (under)water. Hawaii Eco Divers & Surf Adventures takes you on a journey of discovery at the best dive sites of Oahu – such as shark diving at Shark’s Cove or Three Tables, and scuba diving at shipwreck locations and the amazing reefs of the Honolulu / Waikiki area.

3. Crystal Coast Ecotours

See beyond the ordinary on the North Carolina beaches with the expertise of marine biologist, Captain Jess Hawkins. From wild horses on secluded islands to dolphins galavanting in the shallows, the Crystal Coast Ecotours were designed to heighten the experience of the sea. Hawkins is an educator at the NC Aquarium and will fill you in on all there is to know about the marine life on this coast.

4. Wild Louisiana Tours

New Orleans is known for its swamps – tour them by kayak on the Machac Magic kayak swamp tour! This vanishing wetland was home to the town of Ruddock, which is now considered a haunted ghost town. To add to the spooks, alligators, egrets, and snakes live in the swamp. You’ll be safe inside your kayak – but it’s sure good for a thrill!

5. The Last Wilderness Swamp Tours

Location: Plaquemine, Louisiana

Best Season to Visit: Year round but the best time to go on a tour is March-July and October-November.

The Last Wilderness Swamp tour live by the motto “Love, Share, Protect”, and take adventure into the swamp with some serious love, using smaller boats instead of airboats and making sure not to disturb the wildlife. See the swamps from a sustainable perspective.

6. Kayak-iti-yat, Original Kayaking Tours of New Orleans

For the more athletic, the Kayak-iti-Yat picks up the pace on the kayak to learn more about the waterside culture of Bayou: the restaurants, pubs, fine art and modern sculptures, and botanic gardens. This is a unique opportunity to talk about the manipulation of the landscape in the Bayou, and learn from the experts about the ecological health about the region.

7. The Atchafalaya Experience

Photo Credit: Kyle Glenn on Unsplash.

Location: Breaux Bridge, Louisiana

Best Season to Visit: Year round, weather permitting

Prices: $50 USD for persons 13 years and older, and $25 for children 4-12 years old. A 15% discount to military and senior citizens providing they are older than the captain.

And if you can’t get enough of the swamp tours, visit the Atchafalaya Experience. This smaller boat trip has participated in over 50 domestic and foreign television shows – and for good reason! The beauty and ecology of the famous Atchafalaya Swamp will show you another side of Louisiana swampland.

8. Snakeroot EcoTours

The Blue Ridge forests of Burnsville, North Carolina is gorgeous in every month for its unique reasons – and Snakeroot EcoTours will show you the best. April showers bring a magical display of ephemeral wildflowers, leading to May’s world-famous Blue Ghost fireflies. The summer months of June through September are just as magical with native orchids, mushrooms, and secret swimming holes – yours to discover in the tallest mountains of Eastern North America. Waterfalls and mountain streams adorn the terrain, making your visit as peaceful as it is beautiful.

9. Sea Serpent Tours Inc.

The most creative way to explore St. Augustine’s salt water Marsh, St. John’s River, or its historic cityside: A ride in the 550hp big block V8 airboat is sure to be a kick with Sea Serpent Tours. Hear the tantalizing story of Pirate “Captain Blye”, rumored to tour these same waters years ago and drown! Sea Serpent Tours has been highly and widely featured as one of Florida’s best adventures.

10. Botany Bay Ecotours

Edisto Beach is beloved by its locals – and Botany Bay Ecotours offers unique opportunities to explore its highlights, from Monkey Island to the ACE Basin Fishing. Take the Dolphin ecotour and hear local celebrity Sarah Burnell sing to dolphins. Or, cruise down the ACE River to visit the Historic Fishing Community at Bennet’s Point: the perfect place to pick up some fresh shrimp for dinner.

11. Triad Eco Adventures

Two words: Segways and Donuts. Specifically, Krispy Kreme Donuts. And much, much more – Winston Salem is home to a host of innovation, from Texas Pete Hot Sauce to the original Krispy Kreme shop. Via Segway ride, visit the Innovation Quarter where biotech companies grow body parts! It’s a unique experience you don’t want to miss.

12. Wilderness Southeast

Location: Savannah, Georgia

Best Season to Visit: Year round

Starting Price: Depends on the program, and number of people. Look at www.naturesavannah.org for more information

Imagine a tour personalized for exactly what you’re looking for – whether it be the maritime forests, wild beaches, alligators, or dolphins. Wilderness Southeast brings you into intimate contact with the Georgian wilderness’s unique treasures – from tree-draped waterways to unique wildlife.

13. Seashore Ecotours

Experience the incredible canopy mangrove tunnels on Sarasota Bay on your kayak or paddleboard. The clear waters are home to dolphins, manatees, and other species. Enjoy the knowledge of the guides whom specialize in the preservation of the mangrove ecology as you witness its beauty and diversity intimately.

14. Evergreen Escapes

Location: Portland, Oregon

Best Season to Visit: Year-round (with reduced departure days from Nov – Apr)

This is Oregon like you’ve never imagined it. The Columbia Gorge Waterfalls are known for their breathtaking beauty, but the knowledgeable naturalists at Evergreen Escapes takes it a step beyond – offering your perfect wine tasting experience amidst the lush forest and towering cliffs. From visits to the second tallest waterfall in the United States, Multnomah Falls to Oregon’s finest boutique wineries, this inclusive tour allows you to experience Oregon in the center of its wonder.

This is your chance to see the incredible natural wonder of Antelope Canyon and the Horseshoe Bend, guided by a Navajo guide. Located near Sedona and Flagstaff areas of Arizona, this unique opportunity to see one of the most famed and breathtaking places on Earth is sure to intrigue your whole travel crew.

1. Honest Eco Tours

You may think of Key West as just a vacation spot with party cruises, but Honest Eco Tours are out to change that. A conservation-minded tour group, Honest Eco Tours offers intimate, six passenger experiences at the Key West National Wildlife Refuge with fun from snorkeling to dolphin watching to tandem kayaking. This small, family-run business believes in education and awareness of wildlife. See wildlife up close at the Dolphin’s Playground with wild dolphins!

2. Save the Bay

Location: Newport, Rhode Island

Best Season to Visit: October – April

Starting Price: $22/person; $17/Save The Bay members

Looking for some boat time outside of the summer months? Save the Bay Seal Tours in Rhode Island offer a unique opportunity to be on the water during the time of year most people are inside. Tours are offered October – December in Westerly, and November – April in Newport. This allows you to observe seals via binoculars and enjoy the serene solitude of the water in the colder months.

Dusk is when the wildlife comes out in Sanibel Island, Florida. With the backdrop of a glorious Florida sunset, watch brown and white pelicans, white ibis, snowy and great egrets, great and little blue herons flock in to nest for the night from the comfort of your pontoon boat. Because this tour takes place in the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge, you’ll get to see other wetland inhabitants as well – such as alligators, river otters, roseate spoonbills, yellow-crowned night herons, ospreys, bald eagles – and a whole 240 species of birds!

4.Wild Side Specialty Tours

Hawaiian wildlife is acclaimed worldwide – and Wild Side is the way to see it. On intimate charters limited to six to ten passengers, come aboard for a day of adventure: swimming with dolphins, snorkeling at turtle reef, and whale watching.

5. Beaufort River Tours

Here’s a fun fact: 25% of the salt marsh on the east coast of the United States is in Beaufort, SC, and they have the coastal ecology to prove it. Beaufort River tours teem with life, featuring bottlenose dolphins to wading birds to oysters. Centrally located in the Downtown Marina of Beaufort, this tour is a must for your east coast vacation!

6. Carolina Waterman, Inc.

Imagine yourself paddleboarding down the Waccamaw River in Myrtle Beach, visiting the Waccamaw National Wildlife Refuge, and seeing wildlife from the Great Blue Heron to the Swallow Tailed Kite. Diversity and intrigue are the names of the game in this stretch of untouched swamp – and with the help of two instructors, you’ll learn all there is to know about the wildlife you paddle past.

7. Pacific Whale Foundation

The experts at the Pacific Whale Foundation takes whales seriously – and you will too when you see them in their full glory. Set in the backdrop of the glorious Maui island, treat yourself to a sunset dinner, a cocktail cruise, or a stargazing cruise in the popular spot of whale migration.

8.Gulf Coast Expeditions

Location: Crystal River, Florida

Best Season to Visit: We offer Manatee tours year round, with the best viewing times are between November and April

Few animals are more sought out or admired than the manatee! Gulf Coast Expeditions offers the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to make friends with these beloved creatures in the nature habitat. Perfect for manatee lovers! Tours end with a visit to the acclaimed Three Sisters Spring.

9. Jackson Hole EcoTour Adventures

“The American Serengreti” is the affectionate term of reference for the Grand Teton and Yellowstone National Parks. Jackson Hole Ecotour Adventures takes you deeper within the parks to experience the wildlife (such as grizzly bears, wolves, massive herds of elk and bison, moose, bighorn sheep – all of which call this terrain home). For all you bird lovers, there are over 300 bird species here, so get ready to use your high quality Maven binoculars – which are provided on the trip! Jackson Hole Ecotour Adventures offers half, full, and multi-day tours in customized safari style vehicles. Organic snacks provided.

10. Jackson Hole Wildlife Safari

The Jackson Hole Wildlife Safari specializes in bears and wolves, and offers tours from half day to five day excursions! The guides have spent years studying and tracking these species, and their knowledge will lead you to bear and wolf habitats such as Pacific Creek, Hayden Valley, and the famous Lamar Valley.

Adventure Eco Tours

You want an experience you can remember for a lifetime – one that gives you chills every time you recall it, share it, look at photos of it. Here’s to new adventures on American soil.

1. Maui Kayaks

A side of Maui typical Maui goers don’t get to see: Maui underwater. Cruise to Turtle Town via kayak, ditch the boat, and dive into a protected reef. This is a unique snorkeling opportunity to make friends with endangered green sea turtles, dolphins, Manta and Eagle rays, octopus, eels, and even humpback whales!

2. Papillon

All aboard the Grand Voyager! No other tour of the Western landmarks is quite as exhilarating as Papillon’s: take a touring airplane from Las Vegas to the Grand Canyon’s West Rim. From here, you’ll take a helicopter all the way down to the canyon floor – where a pontoon boat will be waiting to take you up the Colorado River! The usual suspects will be visited: The Grand Canyon, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, and the Mojave Desert.

3. Maverick Helicopters

For those that prefer the more luxurious means of exploration, view the Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Temple Rock, Fortification Hill, and the Grand Canyon via helicopter in a spacious cabin, lounging in leather seats, whilst sipping champagne. This helicopter ride comes to an end over the night lights of the Las Vegas strip. Cheers to that!

4. Sandbar Safari Guide Service

Photo Credit to Steinar Engeland from Unsplash.

Location: Swansboro, NC

Best Season to Visit: May-October

Starting Prices: Private tours for up to 6 people are $100/hour for the group

Be one with the North Carolina Coast! The Sandbar Safari Guide takes you on an exploration of the saltwater marshes and estuaries of Bogue Sound for authentically coastal activities such as collecting sand dollar and shark teeth. Dinner is served, and you’re a part of it! Castnet shrimp, pull crab pots, and dig claims for a seafood experience unlike any other.

5. Hidden Reef Ecotours

See why the Virgin Islands are THE place to go for your next vacation. Known for its reefs, the Virgin Islands are best seen underwater by snorkel! Hidden Reef Eco-Tours will take you on an underwater adventure to learn more about the fish, wildlife, and surrounding environment.

6. Breakaway Cruises

South Padre Island, Texas, is nationally acclaimed – and this cruise adventure will expose you to the best of the island. From heart-pounding water sports such as parasailing to Deep Sea Fishing on the Gulf of Mexico, Breakaway Cruises Adventures offers fun for everyone in your travel crew.

7. PADDLE! The Florida Keys

Choose between a kayak or a stand up paddleboard and hit the shallow, clear waters of the Upper Keys! Guides will inform you of the local ecology as you explore the secret lagoon or head towards the ocean. With a unique position between the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, PADDLE! Is the quintessential Floridian adventure you’ve been looking for.

8. Catalina Island Company

See Catalina Island like never before on the Catalina Island Zip Line Eco Tour! At high speeds reaching up to 30 mph, this adventure is for thrill seekers who enjoy a good view – 300 feet above the Descanso Canyon floor, you’ll see this Southern California gem from a bird’s eye perspective! Get to Catalina from departing boats located in Dana Point, San Pedro, and Long Beach.

9. Skyline Eco Adventures

You can’t see Hawaii the right way unless you’re whizzing above its beauty on a zip line! Skyline Eco Adventures has continuously been awarded the #1 Zipline tour company in Hawaii, and it’s not hard to see why: often sold out, courses boast the best of the Hawaiian landscape. Go for your thrill at two locations in Maui, one on Hawaii Island, or another in Kauai!

10. New Wave Eco Charters

New Wave Eco Charters believes in “Kuleana” when it comes to ecology – the marriage between right and responsibility, and their tours reflect this. In charters led by marine naturalists and biologists, get to know Captiva Island, Florida more intimately through your choice of experience. They offer immersive, personalized trips, from guided shelling excursions to two hour sunset cruises, or even a private kayak tour.

11. Maui Eco Tours

It’s playtime in Maui! Maui Eco Tours is known for avoiding crowds of tourists while you experience Maui the way the locals do – uninhibited in the sun and the surf. Stand up paddle boarding, windsurfing, kiteboarding, and surfing are just a few of the lessons and experiences they offer. You’ll be playing like the locals before you know it in the water with the tour guides.

12.Kauai Backcountry Adventures

Kauai’s hidden backcountry gems are a must-see on your visit to the Island. Tube through tunnels and turns in the old sugar plantation irrigation system or zipline one of their seven lines to get a better view from above. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity to understand Kauai’s unique history and culture.

13.Paddle NC

Kayaking or paddle boarding the famous Cape Fear is as historical as it is beautiful. These waters have been home to pirates, Indians, and Europeans, and this rich cultural background guides Paddle NC’s tour. It’s North Carolina history in a new light of day – or sunset, if you choose.

14. Vertical Illusions Adventure Center

The beauty of Chimney Rock Park is one of the greatest attractions in Wisconsin – and Vertical Illusions is devoted to exhibiting its beauty through a variety of adventures. Choose from zipping on 14 consecutive ziplines, rock climbing, kayaking, or rapelling off the park’s natural cliffs.

15. Shawnee Bluffs Canopy Tour

Location: Makanda, Illinois

Best Season to Visit: March 15 to November 30 open every day. December 1 to March 14 open on weekends.

Shawnee Bluffs’ eco-friendly canopy tour boats eight ziplines and three suspension bridges in the Illinois countryside, untouched by man-made creations like power poles or parking lots to dilute your experience. Built by the esteemed Geronimo Construction, this adrenaline rush meets authentic, unobstructed nature.

16. Arcosanti: An Urban Laboratory?

Location: Mayer, AZ

Best Season to Visit: Best time is anytime. We tour year round. Spring (March/April) and Fall (September/October) are most temperate. In summer it is hot but monsoons in July/August cool off the mesa and afternoons.

This is Phoenix like you’ve never imagined it. Considered an ‘urban laboratory’, Arcosanti is a hub for arcology and a lean-alternative to living. Upon the Phoenix desert landscape, it is home to an Olympic sized pool, a wildlife sanctuary, and a Greco-Roman theater for 600 people. You can stay for a tour, a meal, or a night – or all three!

17. Hawaii Real Nature Tours

Within Hawaii Real Nature Tour’s private explorations of Oahu and of Maui, you’ll experience exclusive snorkeling locations in the most beautiful waters of the United States. Hawaii Real Nature also offers tours of the world-famous Road to Hana, and the option to customize your itinerary.

About the Author: Courtney McCaffrey

Courtney McCaffrey is a travel writer and editor based in Wilmington, N.C, Mexico and around the world. In addition to writing, she lives for travel - seeing new places, experiencing new cultures and surfing new waves.
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